Friday, 18 September 2015

Fly Ash is a by-product of the combustion of pulverized coal in electric power generation plants. When the pulverized coal is ignited in the combustion chamber, the carbon and volatile materials are burned off. However, some of the mineral impurities of clay, shale, feldspars, etc., are fused in suspension and carried out of the combustion chamber in the exhaust gases. As the exhaust gases cool, the fused materials solidify into spherical glassy particles called Fly Ash. Due to the fusion-in-suspension these Fly Ash particles are mostly minute solid spheres and hollow cenospheres with some particles even being plerospheres, which are spheres containing smaller spheres. The size of the Fly Ash particles varies but tends to be similar to slightly larger than Type I Portland Cement. The Fly Ash is collected from the exhaust gases by electrostatic precipitators or bag filters. Chemical make up of Fly Ash is primarily silicate glass containing silica, alumina, iron and calcium. Color generally ranges from dark grey to yellowish tan for Fly Ash used for concrete.
ASTM C 618 Standard Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use as Mineral Admixture in Concrete has two designations for Fly Ash used in concrete - Class F and Class C.
Class F Fly Ash is normally produced from burning anthracite or bituminous coal that meets the applicable requirements. This class of Fly Ash has pozzolanic properties and will have a minimum silica dioxide plus aluminum oxide plus iron oxide of 70%.
Class C Fly Ash is normally produced from subbituminous coal that meets the applicable requirements. This class of Fly Ash, in addition to having pozzolanic properties, also has some cementitious properties and will have a minimum silica dioxide plus aluminum oxide plus iron oxide content of 50%.
Most state and federal specifications allow, and even encourage, the use of Fly Ash; especially, when specific durability requirements are needed. Fly Ash has a long history of use in concrete. Fly Ash is used in about 50% of ready mixed concrete (PCA 2000). Class C Fly Ash is used at dosages of 15 to 40% by mass of the cementitious materials in the concrete. Class F is generally used at dosages of 15 to 30%.
Advantages of Fly Ash in Concrete

Fly Ash is a pozzolan. A pozzolan is a siliceous or aluminosiliceous material that, in finely divided form and in the presence of moisture, chemically reacts with the calcium hydroxide released by the hydration of Portland Cement to form additional calcium silicate hydrate and other cementitious compounds. The hydration reactions are similar to the reactions occurring during the hydration of Portland Cement. Thus, concrete containing Fly Ash pozzolan becomes denser, stronger and generally more durable long term as compared to straight Portland Cement concrete mixtures.
Fly Ash improves concrete workability and lowers water demand. Fly Ash particles are mostly spherical tiny glass beads. Ground materials such as Portland Cement are solid angular particles. Fly Ash particles provide a greater workability of the powder portion of the concrete mixture which results in greater workability of the concrete and a lowering of water requirement for the same concrete consistency. Pump ability is greatly enhanced.
Fly Ash generally exhibit less bleeding and segregation than plain concretes. This makes the use of Fly Ash particularity valuable in concrete mixtures made with aggregates deficient in fines.
Sulfate and Alkali Aggregate Resistance. Class F and a few Class C Fly Ashes impart significant sulfate resistance and alkali aggregate reaction (ASR) resistance to the concrete mixture.
Fly Ash has a lower heat of hydration. Portland Cement produces considerable heat upon hydration. In mass concrete placements the excess internal heat may contribute to cracking. The use of Fly Ash may greatly reduce this heat build up and reduce external cracking.
Fly Ash generally reduces the permeability and adsorption of concrete. By reducing the permeability of chloride ion egress, corrosion of embedded steel is greatly decreased. Also, chemical resistance is improved by the reduction of permeability and adsorption.
Fly Ash is econoamical. The cost of Fly Ash is generally less than Portland Cement depending on transportation. Significant quantities may be substituted for Portland Cement in concrete mixtures and yet increase the long term strength and durability. Thus, the use of Fly Ash may impart considerable benefits to the concrete mixture over a plain concrete for less cost.